You're reading: Reuters: Council of Europe puts Turkey on notice over rights, democracy

Reuters: Council of Europe puts Turkey on notice over rights, democracy

Published April 25, 2017 at 8:13 pm

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) acknowledges supporters, during a rally, as he leaves after delivering a speech at the conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) headquarters in Istanbul, on April 16, 2017, following the results of a nationwide referendum that will determine Turkey's future destiny. Erdogan on April 16, 2017 hailed Turkey for making a "historic decision" as he claimed victory in the referendum on a new constitution expanding his powers. The "Yes" campaign to give Turkish President expanded powers won with 51.3 percent of the vote a tightly-contested referendum although the "No" camp had closed the gap, according to initial results. But Turkey's two main opposition parties said they would challenge the results.

Photo by AFP

A leading European human rights body on April 25 put Turkey on a watchlist over the crackdown on dissent since last year’s coup attempt, rights violations and concerns about President Tayyip Erdogan’s increased grip on power.

Turkey reacted furiously to the vote at the Strasbourg-based Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, saying it smacked of Islamophobia and was a “disgrace to this organ, which claims to be the cradle of democracy.”